About St. Emeric · Cleveland, Ohio
St. Emeric Parish (Szent Imre Római Katolikus Magyar Egyházközség) is a Hungarian-American Catholic parish on Cleveland's near west side, founded in 1904 to serve Hungarian immigrants. Today it remains a bilingual parish celebrating Mass in both English and Hungarian for Hungarian-speaking Catholics across greater Cleveland. Located on West 22nd Street overlooking the Flats at the edge of Ohio City, the parish is known for its Gothic-style 1925 church, a Holtkamp organ, a bell cast in 1871 by the Meneely Bell Foundry, and the striking Millennial Mural honoring Hungary's millennium of Christianity. The parish grounds host the Cleveland Hungarian School and Hungarian American Scouts, and the church hall remains a gathering place for traditional Hungarian dinners, bake sales, and cultural celebrations.
- Established
- 1904
- Patron
- Saint Emeric of Hungary (Szent Imre, c. 1007–1031), crown prince of Hungary and patron saint of young people
- Rector
- Rev. Richard Bona
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
Why belong here
St. Emeric is one of the few places in greater Cleveland where Hungarian-speaking Catholics can hear the Eucharist celebrated in their own language week after week, alongside a full English schedule that welcomes the wider neighborhood. The parish nurtures the Hungarian-American community across generations by hosting the Cleveland Hungarian School, the Hungarian American Scouts, traditional Hungarian dinners and bake sales, and the great annual patronal feast around November 5. Visitors are drawn as well by the church's historic 1925 Gothic interior, the Millennial Mural, the Holtkamp organ, and the quiet of overlooking the Flats from the edge of Ohio City.
Mass times at St. Emeric
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before Mass or by appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration after the 9:00 a.m. English Mass on the patronal feast Sunday, followed by Benediction at 10:45 a.m. and Solemn Hungarian Mass at 11:00 a.m.
St. Emeric Parish — Hungarian-American Catholic community in Cleveland
St. Emeric Parish (Szent Imre Római Katolikus Magyar Egyházközség) is a bilingual Catholic parish on Cleveland's near west side that has served Hungarian-speaking Catholics since 1904. Today it remains a center of Hungarian-American spiritual, cultural, and community life in greater Cleveland, with Mass celebrated in both English and Hungarian every Sunday. The parish is a small gem of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, known for its historic Gothic church, its Millennial Mural, and its warm embrace of Hungarian heritage.
- Founded 1904
- Parish of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
- Hungarian name: Szent Imre Római Katolikus Magyar Egyházközség
- Located at 1860 West 22nd Street, Cleveland, OH 44113
- Pastoral care in English and Hungarian
History of the Parish
Founded in 1904 by Father Joseph Hirling to minister to Hungarian immigrants on Cleveland's west side, St. Emeric has weathered three buildings, two major fires, a forced relocation for the Terminal Tower, and a 1950s renaissance as Hungarian refugees fled Communist oppression. The community rebuilt itself each time, growing from a wood-frame church at Bridge Avenue and West 24th Street to its present Gothic home dedicated in 1925. The parish celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2024 and the 100th anniversary of the present church building on November 9, 2025.
- 1904 — Parish founded by Father Joseph Hirling; first Mass in November 1904.
- January 22, 1905 — Bishop Ignatius F. Horstmann dedicates a wood-frame church at Bridge Avenue and West 24th Street.
- 1905 — Rev. Stephen Soltész becomes pastor; brings Ursuline Sisters to teach; founds Catholic Hungarian newspaper Haladás (Progress) in 1909.
- 1915 — Fire destroys the wooden church; community purchases the former St. Mary of the Annunciation (French) Church a few blocks away.
- 1921 — Fire destroys the school and damages the church; school rebuilt.
- 1924 — Van Sweringen brothers' Union Terminal Company purchases the parish property for Terminal Tower railway tracks, forcing a third relocation.
- September 7, 1925 — Present Gothic church at 1860 West 22nd Street dedicated under Father Joseph Hartel.
- Early–mid 1950s — Thousands of Hungarian refugees from Communist oppression settle in Cleveland; parish undergoes a renaissance.
- 1965 — Vernacular liturgy introduced; bilingual character of parish becomes more pronounced.
- 1973 — Extensive remodeling under Father Francis Kárpi.
- 1974 — Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty pays a pastoral visit.
- 1988 — Father Sándor Siklodi becomes pastor.
- 2015–2020 — Father András Mezei serves as priest administrator.
- 2020 — Father Richard Bona assigned as administrator.
- February 2022 — Father Bona installed as pastor.
- 2024 — Parish celebrates 120th anniversary.
- November 9, 2025 — 100th anniversary of the church building's consecration celebrated with Bishop Martin Amos.
The Church Building
The present church, dedicated September 7, 1925, is the third building to serve the parish. Although the architect is not known, the design reflects the Gothic style in both exterior and interior. The interior was furnished with altars, communion rail, pieta, pulpit, confessionals, stained glass windows, and a bell brought from the old French Annunciation Church. The high altar is white ornate carved wood with delicate spires rising to meet the arched ceiling; side altars are scaled-down versions of the main altar. Notable musical and historical features include a Holtkamp organ and a bell cast in 1871 by the Meneely Bell Foundry of West Troy (now Watervliet), New York, inscribed in French in honor of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Statues of St. Emeric and Our Lady of Fatima flank the tabernacle; St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and the Blessed Mother stand above the side altars.
- Gothic style (exterior and interior)
- Cornerstone / dedication: 1925
- Holtkamp organ
- 1871 Meneely Bell Foundry bell
- Altars and stained glass from former St. Mary of the Annunciation Church
- Statues of St. Emeric, Our Lady of Fatima, St. Joseph with Child Jesus, and the Blessed Mother
- Extensively remodeled in 1973 under Father Francis Kárpi
The Millennial Mural
Along the southern wall of the church hangs the Millennial Mural, honoring Hungary's millennium of Christianity. It was designed by then-pastor Father Francis Kárpi and painted by James W. Hanzel, with the Latin inscription 'Sacrum Hungariae Millenium 1970-1975.' Father Kárpi explained that the mural shows the historical presence of salvation in time and the religion brought to earth by Jesus Christ. It incorporates imagery from the Apollo 8 mission (the Genesis reading by astronauts Anders, Lovell, and Borman in 1968) alongside the historic emblem with the Holy Crown of St. Stephen and the emblem of the United States, symbolizing both Hungarian heritage and American citizenship. Additional sanctuary murals were painted by Italian immigrant Romeo Celleghin, whose church paintings at St. Emeric became nationally known.
- Designed by Father Francis Kárpi
- Painted by James W. Hanzel
- Latin inscription: Sacrum Hungariae Millenium 1970-1975
- Depicts Hungary's Holy Crown of St. Stephen and the U.S. emblem
- Includes imagery inspired by the Apollo 8 Genesis reading (1968)
- Additional sanctuary murals by Romeo Celleghin
Saint Emeric, the Patron
The parish is named for Saint Emeric of Hungary (Szent Imre, c. 1007–1031), the son of King Stephen I, first king of Hungary. Although he was crown prince, Emeric never ascended to the throne; he is believed to have been killed in a hunting accident. Many healings and conversions were reported at his gravesite, and he is venerated as the patron saint of young people because of his exemplary and prayerful life. His statue stands to the right of the tabernacle on the high altar.
- Life: c. 1007–1031
- Son of King Stephen I of Hungary
- Patron saint of young people
- Statue on the high altar to the right of the tabernacle
Hungarian Cultural and Community Life
Beyond the liturgical schedule, St. Emeric serves as the cultural heart of the Hungarian-American community in greater Cleveland. The parish allows its school facilities and a remodeled building on the parish grounds to be used by the Cleveland Hungarian School once a week and by the Hungarian American Scouts several times a week. The church hall serves as a gathering place for parishioners to socialize and to organize fundraising activities such as traditional Hungarian-style dinners and bake sales, as well as programs that reflect the rich Hungarian Christian heritage.
- Cleveland Hungarian School meets weekly on parish grounds
- Hungarian American Scouts meet several evenings per week
- Traditional Hungarian-style dinners and bake sales
- Cultural programs reflecting Hungarian Christian heritage
- Parish hall used as a community gathering place
Annual Feast Day and Anniversaries
Each year around early November the parish celebrates the feast of Saint Emeric with a Solemn Hungarian Mass, Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction, and a festive banquet in the Church Hall featuring traditional Hungarian fare such as chicken soup, roast pork with mushroom sauce, rice pilaf, fresh cabbage salad, and Hungarian pastry. Recent principal celebrants have included Rev. Dr. Kornél Fábry, auxiliary bishop of Esztergom-Budapest (2024), Fr. Barnabás G. Kiss, OFM of Detroit (2023), and Bishop Martin Amos (2025).
- Annual patronal feast of St. Emeric (early November)
- Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction on feast day
- Solemn Hungarian Mass at 11:00 a.m.
- Festive banquet in the Church Hall with traditional Hungarian menu
- 2025 also marked 100th anniversary of the church building's consecration
Merger with St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish
Through a decree of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish has been merged with St. Emeric Parish. The parish website carries the latest news and the bishop's decrees concerning the merger for parishioners to consult.
- Diocese of Cleveland merger decree in effect
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish merged into St. Emeric
- Latest news and decree text linked from the parish home page
Visit, Contact, and Location
St. Emeric Church sits at 1860 West 22nd Street in Cleveland, OH 44113, overlooking the industrial Flats on the edge of the revitalized Ohio City neighborhood. The parish office can be reached by phone at (216) 965-0061 or by email at [email protected]. Parishioners from the surrounding west-side neighborhoods historically traveled by bus and car to reach the West 22nd Street location.
- Address: 1860 West 22nd Street, Cleveland, OH 44113
- Phone: (216) 965-0061
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stemeric.com/
- Near Ohio City, overlooking the Flats
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Hirling1904
Founded the parish with the near-West Side Hungarian immigrant community; celebrated the first Mass in November 1904.
- Rev. Stephen Soltész1905–1911
Gathered and registered the widely scattered parishioners; oversaw school with Ursuline Sisters (150+ children); founded the Catholic Hungarian newspaper Haladás (Progress) in 1909; appointed to a church in Lorain in 1911.
- Rev. József Szabó1911
Succeeded Soltész.
- Rev. József Péter
Served until 1920.
- Rev. John M. Rácz
Served until 1920.
- Rev. Joseph Hartel1920–1925+
Welcomed Ursuline Sisters in 1920 and the Daughters of the Divine Redeemer in 1925; oversaw rebuilding of the school after the 1921 fire and construction of the present 1925 church.
- Rev. John B. Mundweil30+ years after Hartel
Long-tenured pastor; pioneer among diocese priests in caring for and educating the mentally retarded and handicapped.
- Rev. Francis Kárpi1965–c. 1988
Led extensive 1973 remodeling; commissioned the Millennial Mural painted by James W. Hanzel; welcomed Cardinal Mindszenty's 1974 pastoral visit.
- Rev. Sándor Siklodi1988–
Succeeded Father Kárpi as pastor.
- Rev. András Mezei2015–June 2020
Priest administrator from Hungary; considered himself a missionary; fluent in Hungarian; recalled to Hungary in June 2020.
- Rev. Richard Bona2020–present
Assigned as administrator July 2020; installed as pastor February 2022.